Mechanism fob assembling match



Nov. 19,1940 RHGIL; 2,222,026

MECHANISM FOR ASSEMBLING MATCH PACKETS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 15, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet l R. H. GILL Nov, 19, 1940.

MECHANISM FOR ASSEMBLING MATCH PACKETS AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 13, 1939 R. H. GILL 2,222,026

MECHANISM FOR ASSEMBLING MATCH PACKETS AND THE LIKE I Nov. '19, 1940.

Filed Nov. 13, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 H. GILL Nov. 19, 1940.

MECHANISM FOR 'ASSEMBLING MATCH PACKETS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 13, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Nov. 19, 1940 MECHANISM FOR ASSEIWBLING MATCH PACKETS AND THE LIKE Ray H. Gill, Akron, Ohio, assignor to The Diamond Match Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application November 13, 1939, Serial N 304,094

This invention relates to mechanism for assembling match packets and the like, especially book matches of the type wherein each book comprises one or more cards of matches and a flexible cover therefor having a closure flap which is adapted to be folded upon the matches and its free end tucked under the edge of a relatively short front retaining fold to which and the back of the cover are fastened the base or bases of the match card or cards.

The present invention may be described as a modification or improvement of the assembling mechanism disclosed in the co-pending application of William Roberts, Serial No. 207,050, filed May 10, 1938, (Patent No. 2,182,880 dated December 12, 1939) which mechanism in the form illustrated in said application includes an intermittently-movable endless chain carrier having a succession of open pockets for the reception of pairs of books in similar endwise and face arrangement, which books are borne by the carrier The bottoms of the alternate pockets are of less depth than the others so that the outer ends of the books contained in the alternate pockets project beyond their companion books. Such mechanism also includes stationary walls supported adjacent the respective sides of the carrier, and longitudinally extending cam rods arranged in such co-operative relation to the walls and the carrier that the alternate books are progressively reversed endwise in their respective pockets during the travel of the carrier, the books of the respective rows being in reversed end relation and with their smooth backs adjacent the folded fronts of the other books. Thereupon the books thus arranged are freed from the respective pockets and advanced along the channels of a rearwardly extending in two parallel rows.

packing trough.

increased output.

With these objects in view the invention comprises novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being ex pressed in the appended claims.

Claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a' partial elevation of the delivery end of a booking machine equipped with assembling mechanism embodying my improvements.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section through 5 the packing trough, as on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan of the assembling mechanism including a continuously rotatable carrier wheel wherein two progressing rows of match books are represented.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section, as on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Figs. 5 and 6 are transverse'sections through the pockets of the carrier wheel and adjacent parts, as on the lines 55 and 6-6, respectively, of Fig. 4, showing the match books as seated in the shallow and deep pockets adjacent the receiving portion of the wheel.

Figs. 7 to 10, inclusive, are similar sections, as on the lines"|l to l0l0, respectively, of Fig. 4, showing the successive positions, of the books in the shallow pockets as such books are tilted a quarter turn during the progress of the carrier Wheel.

Fig. 11 is a plan of a cam structure for effecting the first quarter turn of the books within the shallow pockets.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of said cam structure.

Figs. 13 to 16, inclusive, are transverse vertical sections through the pockets of the carrier wheel, and adjacent parts, as on the lines l3--l3 to 16-! 6, respectively, of Fig. 4, showing the successive positions of the books in the shallow pockets during the second quarter turn of the book to effect their endwise reversal during the progress of the carrier.

Fig. 17 is a partial longitudinal vertical section, as on the line Ill'l of Fig. 3, showing the relation of the pocketed wheel to the book trans- 40 fer head during the initial entrance of a book into an adjacent pocket of the continuously rotating wheel.

Fig. 18 is a similar view showing the book as farther advanced in the pocket.

Referring to the drawings, 20 designates the usual flap folding wheel of a typical match booking machine, from the radial pockets of which wheel match books (B), in succeeding pairs, are delivered horizontally in similar end and face arrangement, the largeror headed ends of the books leading and the folded faces of the cover being upward. The books are deposited upon a horizontal channeled bed 2| supportedby a frame 55 structure 22 which is mounted on a pedestal 23 adjacent the booking machine. By means of suitable tucking mechanism, the cover flaps (a) of the respective books are engaged with the retaining folds (c) at the narrow ends of the books.

In the booking machine to which my invention has been applied, the tucking mechanism includes an arm 24 which overhangs the bed 2| and carries depending tucker members 25 which by actuation of the arm are moved in a vertical orbital path in a manner to engage and recede from the opposing cover flaps of the underlying books. The means for actuating the arm 24 includes a vertically movable lifter bar 26 therefor, which bar is periodically operated by a cam 21 on a shaft 28 having its bearings in the standard 38 on the base of the booking machine. The shaft 28 is driven from the main cam shaft 29 of the booking machine by means of a chain 39 passing about sprocket wheels 3| and 32 on the respective shafts. In such machine is provided mechanism embodying a pair of four-motion transfer heads 33 arranged in co-operative relation to the flapfolding wheel and the bed 2|, and effective to transfer succeeding pairs of books from the pockets of the flap-folding wheel to the channels of the bed, therein maintain them during the flap tucking operation, and then discharge the finished books endwise from the bed. The heads 33 are formed on or supported by vertical levers 34 under the control of two complementary cams 35 and 36, respectively, the former being fast on the shaft 28, and the latter on a lower shaft 31 having its bearings in the standard 38. The shafts 28 and 37 are equipped with intermeshing gears 39 and ill, respectively, whereby motion is transmitted from the upper to the lower shaft, all substantially as set out in the co-pending application of Charles F. Wright, Serial No. 271,740, filed May 4, 1939 (Patent No. 2,195,197 dated March 26, 1940).

The assembling mechanism herein illustrated as an embodiment of my invention includes a continuously rotating carrier comprising two spaced counterpart wheels 4|, each having a succession of open peripheral pockets 42 of special formation for the reception of the match books as they are discharged from the bed 2|, the bottoms of the alternate pockets being of less depth than the others. The wheels 4| are fast on a transverse shaft 43 having its bearings in the frame structure 22, the axis of the shaft being below the horizontal plane of the bed 2|.

Located between and concentric with the two wheels 6| is a stationary arcuate bar section 44 which lies adjacent the path of the bottoms of the pockets and has a horizontal foot 25 substantially flush with the bottoms of the channels of the bed 2|. The bar section 44 extends upwardly and rearwardly from the front or receiving portion of the wheels and is fixed to and constitutes in effect a continuation of a bar section 46 supported by and extending longitudinally of an elongated plate M which is-mounted at its forward end on a cross-piece of the frame structure 22. The forward end of the bar 45 and of the plate M overhang the upper rearward paths of the wheels 4|, the plate being suitably slotted longitudinally, as at 48, for the free passage of the book pockets, so that as the pockets descend the books are deposited in orderly rows upon the plate. This plate constitutes the floor of a packing trough having two spaced parallel channels into which the rows of books carried by the wheels are progressively delivered during the rotation of the wheels.

The preferred means for rotating the carrier wheels is as follows: Fast on one end of the shaft 43 is a sprocket wheel 49 which is operatively connected by means of a chain 50 with a smaller sprocket wheel 5| fast on one end of a lower shaft 52 having its bearings in the standard 38. Fast also on the other end of the latter shaft is a spur wheel 53 in mesh with a pinion 54 loose on the shaft 28, which pinion is secured to a larger sprocket wheel 55 also loose on the shaft 23. The sprocket wheel 55 is operatively connected by means of a chain 56 with a smaller sprocket wheel 51 fast on the main cam shaft 29 of the booking machine. Hence constant rotary motion is transmitted from the shaft 29 to the sprocket wheel 55 and the pinion 54; thence through the spur wheel 53 to the shaft 52 thence through the sprocket connections 5|, 59 and 49 to the shaft 43 of the pocketed wheels 4|. The ratio of the gearing just described is such that as each succeeding pair of wheel pockets reach and communicate with the channels of the bed 2| the books then being discharged by the heads 33 are inserted endwise into the opposing pockets, following which in the continuous progress of the wheels the contained books are carried upwardly and rearwardly. While they are seated within the pockets of the rotating wheels, the higher alternate books are rapidly tilted transversely of and within their respective pockets, as will presently appear.

To effect and insure the entry of the horizontally disposed finished books on the bed 2| into the continuously rotating wheel pockets, each of the pockets is formed to extend in angular relation to a radial line passing therethrough, and the upper wall of the pocket is curved or bevelled at its outer end, as at 58, to afford a flaring mouth for the pocket. In the rearward discharging movement of the transfer heads 33 the leading ends of a pair of books are initially entered in the proximate pockets of the wheels before the then bottoms of the pockets reach a position substantially flush with the floor of the bed, as seen in Fig. 1'7, which entry is facilitated by the flaring portions of the upper walls of the pockets. As the movement of the heads continues in the interval immediately preceding such substantially flush position of the bottoms of the pockets, the books are pushed bodily into the pockets, as seen in Figs. 4 and 18. Thereupon as the wheels progress another pair of completed books are inserted in the next succeeding pair of pockets by the transfer heads; and so on 0 during the operation of the booking machine the books are entered pair by pair in the pockets of the rotating carrier.

Spring fingers 59 are arranged to overhang and resiliently press upon the outer or narrow ends of the successive books projecting beyond the pockets of the respective wheels, thus ensuring the proper seating of the books upon the bottoms of the progressing pockets. The springs are mounted on a suitable bracket 39 supported by the bed 2|.

Fixed to the curved bar 44, immediately rearward of the fingers 59, is a relatively short cam block 6| of generally triangular formation, the upper face 62 of which block inclines upwardly and rearwardly from the bar to a plane adjacent the peripheral path of the wheel pockets. The sides of the block at its low narrow end are inclined outwardly and rearwardly to a limited extent, as at 63, and then inwardly and rearwardly to the higher end of the block, as at 64, thus affording lateral rounded projections 65 which are located adjacent the bottom paths of the re-' spective pockets, so that in the rotation of the wheels the projections lie in the paths of the opposing sides of the lower books and under the paths of the adjacent bottom corners of the higher books borne by the wheels. Hence as the wheels rotate the projections 65 oppose the inner sides of the lower books in a manner to move the latter a slight distance within and transversely of their respective pockets, but ride directly under the adjacent bottom corners of the alternating or higher books in a manner to direct the latter books upon the inclined face 62 of the cam block 6!, which face, as the wheels progress, gradually raises such bottom corners until they reach the summit GB of the cam face, thus successively tilting the opposing higher books within their pockets and toward the outer sides of the respective wheels. Longitudinally extending walls 61 sup ported by the frame structure adjacent the outer sides of the peripheral pockets of the wheels limit the outer movement of the lower books when they are laterally shifted as just described. As illustrated the upper edges of the walls 61 are shaped to present in the region of the cam block 6| downwardly and rearwardly inclined cam portions 68 terminating in low parallel extensions 69. The cam portions 68 afford a progressive rest and support for the outer sides of the higher books when the latter are being tilted by the cam block. (See Figs. '7, 8, 9 and 10.) Fixed to the rear of the cam, block is a curved tail piece H1 in concentric relation to the curved bar 44, which tail piece tapers laterally outward from the respective sides of the cam face 62, as at H, so that the opposing sides of the partially tilted books move in contact with the tail piece and are thereby deflected still farther until they complete a quarter turn in their respective pockets, as seen in Figs. 9 and 10 During the action of the tail piece on the opposing ends of the higher books the then outer lower portions of such books pass to and ride upon the opposing lower extensions 69 of the side walls 61 In order to maintain the higher books in sliding contact with the inclined face 62 of the cam block 6! during the initial contact of the books with such cam face, thus ensuring the rapid and efficient tilting of the books, a pair of rearwardly and outwardly bevelled cam members 12 are arranged in proximity to the outer sides of the respective wheels so as to overhang the adjacent upper edges of the books. As the books progress their upper narrow ends contact with and are supported by the rearwardly and outwardly inclined cam edges 13 of the members 12 while the inner bottom corners of the books are being raised by the inclined face 52 of the cam block 6!. The cam members 12 are secured to a pair of longitudinally extending arch rails 14 located laterally adjacent the upper and forward paths of travel of the pockets of the respective wheels, which rails are secured at their respective ends to the frame structure 22 previously mentioned. The rails 14 are provided with inwardly projecting elongated cam portions 15 which are located in such spaced upper and lateral relation to the respective inclinations 68 and extensions 69 of the side walls 6! that the outer narrow ends of the partially turned books in the two wheels progress in contact with the cam portions 15 and are thereby pressed inwardly to position their then lower inward corners upon the forward lower extensions of a pair of parallel plates 16. These plates are affixed to the central bar 46 and, extending longitudinally of the trough floor 41, form the inner side walls of a pair of parallel book-receiving channels. The forward ends of the plates 16 have upwardly and rearwardly inclined cam portions 11 upon which ride the inner ends of the then lower sides of the quarterturned books, which books are thereby gradually raised as they progress into the respective channels of the trough, thus reversing the alternate books endwise within the trough, as in the Ronerts application previously mentioned. (See Figs. 3 and 4 and 13 to 16 inclusive.)

To insure the complete reversal of the higher books as they move in contact with the cam faces of the inner trough walls 16, the forward ends of the outer parallel trough walls 18 are constituted by forwardly and upwardly flaring cam members 19 which extend adjacent the outer sides of the pocketed portions of the wheels and are secured at their lower or rearward ends to the trough floor, as at 80. The lower forward portions of the cam members 19 present inclined surfaces 8! with which the outer sides of the books are moved in contact while the books are being tilted by the cam surfaces 11 of the central walls 16 of the trough, the opposing inner and outer cam surfaces thus ensuring the complete reversal of the books that are in contact therewith as the books approach and enter the respective channels of the trough. (See Figs. 3, 4, 14 and 15.)

The rearward c-am portions 15 on the side rails 14 also act upon the opposing sides of the low books to press them into alignment with the alternating high books; and as the two rows of books progress along the receiving portion of the trough they are uniformly seated on the floor of thetrough by the pressure upon the tops of the books of overhanging spring blades 32 which are fixed at one end on a cross-piece 83 supported by a post 84 secured to and between the inner walls 76 and rising from the central bar 46 of the trough.

From the foregoing it will be seen that my invention provides a simple and efiicient match.

book assembling machine embodying a continuously rotating pocketed wheel into the succeeding pockets of which the match books in similar end and face relation are delivered from the booking machine, the construction of the pockets being such that alternate books are higher than the others, that in a relatively short path of travel such alternate books are bodily tilted and turned within their pockets by means comprising a lateralcam which engages one of the bottom corners of each succeeding alternate book and moves the adjacent low books beyond the effective path of the cam; and that the space above the path of the rows of books while they are being acted upon by the cam is open and unobstructed.

It will also be seen that by the provision of a continuously moving wheel of the character de scribed instead of an intermittently movable chain carrier for the books, the assembling mechanism can be run at greatly increased speed, and that by virtue of the cam construction and arrangement wherein the upper path of the books is open and unobstructed there is no liability of the jamming of any defective book in its pocket during the tilting and turning of the book, since in the event of the presence of any such book 1t will be thrown upwardly and outwardly and final- 1y dislodged from the pocket during the travel of the wheel.

I claim:

1. In match book assembling mechanism, the combination with a support for horizontally-disposedmatch books, and means for discharging the books endwise in successive order from said support, of a book carrier comprising a wheel having a horizontal axis and mounted in proximity to said support, said wheel having throughout its periphery a succession of equally-spaced open pockets each in angular relation to a radial line passing therethrough, and the bottoms of alternate pockets being of less depth than the others, means for continuously rotating said wheel in timed relation to the discharging means, whereby each succeeding pocket during its pro ress across the plane of said support receives a match book discharged from the support, and book-tilting means including a stationary cam arranged laterally of the upper path of the pockets and having an upwardly and rearwardly inclined acting surface which lies below and within the path of travel of the adjacent bottom corners of the books in the said pockets of less depth.

2. In match book assembling mechanism, the combination with a support for horizontally-disposed match books, and means for discharging the books endwise in successive order from said support, of a book carrier comprising a wheel having a horizontal axis of rotation and mounted in proximity to said support, said wheel having throughout its periphery a succession of equallyspaced open pockets each in angular relation to a radial line passing therethrough, and the bottoms of alternate pockets being of less depth than the others, means for continuously rotating said wheel in timed relation to the said discharging means, whereby each succeeding pocket during its progress across the plane of said support receives a match book discharged from the support, and book-tilting means including a sta-- tionary cam arranged laterally of the upper path of the pockets and having an upwardly and rearwardly inclined acting surface which lies below and within the path of travel of the adjacent bottom corners of the books in the said pockets of less depth, said cam also having at its upper portion a rearwardly extending tail member with a projecting edge portion in opposing relation to the adjacent sides of the travelling books.

3. In match book assembling mechanism, the combination with a support for horizontally-disposed match books, and means for discharging the books endwise in successive order from said support, of a book carrier comprising a wheel having a horizontal axis or rotation and mounted in proximity to said support, said wheel having throughout its periphery a succession of equally spaced open pockets each in angular relation to a radial line passing therethrough, and the bottoms of alternate pockets being of less depth than the others, means for" continuously rotating said wheel in timed relation to the discharging means, whereby each succeeding pocket during its progress across the plane of said support receives a match book discharged from the support, and book-tilting means including a stationary cam arranged laterally of the upper path of the pockets and having an upwardly and rearwardly inclined acting surface which lies below and within the path of travel of the adjacent bottom corners of the books in the said pockets of less depth, said tilting means also including a stationary cam in proximity to the opposite side of said pockets and in position to support the tilted books and maintain them in contact with the said inclined cam surface.

4. In match book assembling mechanism, the combination with a carrier comprising a wheel having a succession of open peripheral pockets whereof the alternate pockets are of less depth than the others, of book-tilting means including a cam block arranged laterally of the path of said pockets and having an upwardly and rearwardly inclined acting face which lies below and within the path of travel of the adjacent bottom corner portions of the books contained in the pockets of less depth, thereby tilting the latter books with their respective pockets during the rotation of the wheel, said cam also having a lateral projection which opposes the lower side portions of the intervening books and shifts them laterally beyond the inclined face of the cam.

5. In match book assembling mechanism, the combination with a carrier comprising a wheel having a succession of open peripheral pockets whereof the alternate pockets are of less depth than the others, of book tilting means including a cam block arranged laterally of the path of said pockets and having an upwardly and. rearwardly inclined acting face which lies below and within the path of travel of the adjacent bottom corner portions of the books contained in the pockets of less depth, thereby tilting the latter books with 

